On February 1st, 2013 at 6:40 p.m. a Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the Traffic Unit conducted a traffic stop on a 2000 Ford truck at the intersection of SR 287 and Arizona Blvd in Coolidge. The driver of the truck was identified per a pictured Arizona Identification Card as Deyanira Cordero (age 36 of Coolidge). Cordero did not have an Arizona Drivers License.

The passenger in the vehicle was verbally identified as Jorge Luis Morales-Espinoza (age 37 of Coolidge). During a warrants check, the deputy discovered Espinoza had a Federal U.S. Marshal felony warrant for probation violation related to him illegally entering the United States.

The warrant was confirmed and deputies told Espinoza he was under arrest. Espinoza resisted arrest and fought with the deputies in an attempt to get away. He was taken to the ground and placed into custody. One of the deputies injured his hand during the struggle. It was later discovered, Espinoza had an additional warrant for his arrest under an alias, which was linked to him using a prior booking photo.

Cordero admitted to knowing that Espinoza had been deported several times and was not supposed to be in the United States, she was also arrested for hindering prosecution by harboring a wanted felon. Her brother arrived on scene and informed the deputies, Cordero was also in the United States illegally.

ICE was contacted and confirmed both Cordero and Espinoza were both illegally in the United States.

Espinoza was found to have been deported from the United States on five separate occasions since 2005. He was last deported during December of 2012. He was federally prosecuted for illegal entry on his last deportation. Espinoza criminal history shows he has numerous arrests in Arizona as well as convictions for Extreme DUI and Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.

Cordero was booked for hindering prosecution. Espinoza was booked on Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement and Resisting Arrest, as well as his numerous warrants.

Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “Our elected officials should not be considering ways to give citizenship to those who entered the U.S. illegally until our border is truly secure. While the U.S. Border Patrol and law enforcement agencies do the best they can, unfortunately this administration does not take border security seriously but as they say - what difference at this point does it make.”

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